Boat Storage Ideas

Properly storing your boat when not in use is key to keeping it undamaged and in good usable condition for many years. In addition, should you ever want to sell your boat, it’s resale value will be higher than a boat stored improperly.

The easiest and cheapest boat storage solution is to park it in your own driveway and cover it with a properly fitted boat cover. Covers are readily available in the proper size for any boat. Some features to look for are: zippered access, allowing you to get to the boat’s interior without completely removing the cover; double reinforced fabric at the stress points; a secure tie-down solution for high wind situations; and an included patch kit for those inevitable tears.

An important point when storing outdoors: local ordinances. Many towns and housing associations have laws governing leaving large items such as boats and RVs in one’s driveway when it would be visible from the street. A quick phone call to your local zoning board or association will let you know if this is a viable storage solution for you.

While a boat cover is better than nothing, indoor boat storage is far superior. Storing your boat indoors can be tricky, however, due to it’s large and unwieldy size. Storing your boat in your own garage is economical, but you should insure you have enough room to comfortably move all around the boat while it is stored as this will allow you to easily perform maintenance in the off-season.

A more expensive but also more convenient solution is the boat storage facility at your local marina. Most marinas have some sort of storage facility you can rent. The convenience comes form not having to tow your boat from your home to the water. You are also much more likely to have strong, secure storage at a professional facility rather than at your own home. The downside is, since the boats are ofter stored on racks access by forklifts, you won’t be able to get to it for that off-season maintenance. Also, you’ll need to make an appointment to get your boat down and into the water. But if you don’t have a large enough garage at your house and you can’t store it in your driveway, a professional boat storage facility may be your only option.

If the cost of storing your boat at the marina is too prohibitive, you may try looking for other boat storage buildings in your town. Anything not right at the marina will be cheaper than the marina’s facility. To make use of an off-site boat storage facility you will still need to move the boat yourself. Remember that when looking for off-site storage to also look for places advertising RV storage as they often store boats as well.

Proper storage is essential to keeping your boat in good condition. Take care of your boat! :)